#2026-election

#2026-election

Flavio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of Brazil's jailed former President Jair Bolsonaro, said his father has chosen him to lead his far-right Liberal Party and run for president in next year's election. "It is with great responsibility that I confirm the decision of Brazil's greatest political and moral leader, Jair Messias Bolsonaro, to entrust me with the mission of continuing our national project," the younger Bolsonaro wrote on X on Friday.

But they've certainly got Democratic operatives and consultants talking even as Padilla and his camp remain loudly mum on the possibility. The focus for California's senior senator, said Padilla spokesperson Edgar Rodriguez when asked about the gubernatorial rumors on Wednesday, remains on California's upcoming special election on redistricting. That's been the party line in the past few weeks, since the rumor mill really started churning, and what Padilla himself has said in recent interviews.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris' announcement Wednesday that she will not run for California governor next year has left the race wide open without a clear frontrunner. For the past eight years, Gavin Newsom has served as governor, and with his second term up, 2026 presents an opportunity for a fresh face to lead the state. There's a large field running of Republicans and Democrats, which includes some well-known figures in the state, but many who voters are not familiar with.

Governor Tony Evers's victory in 2018 over incumbent Scott Walker marked a significant political shift in Wisconsin, emphasizing a move away from an aggressive Republican governance model towards a more democratic approach. Evers's personality and background contributed to his appeal, serving as a contrast to the politically charged atmosphere symbolized by Walker and Trump.

Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva has registered a campaign committee for the November 2026 election to win back his previous post.

California means to America what America means to the world. Let's make California the land of opportunity again, great jobs, great homes, great kids. Let's make California an inspiration again, the very best of America.